Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Preamble
Philip will be here shortly to guide you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
The driver claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
